Osteopathy for Babies and Children

Cranial and Paediatric Osteopathy

Birth is an incredible journey. As your baby moves through the birth canal, they twist and turn under significant pressure. While babies are beautifully designed to cope with this transition, some may retain minor strains from pregnancy or labour that can leave them feeling uncomfortable or unsettled. These tensions can sometimes contribute to feeding difficulties, excessive winding, bowel discomfort, unsettled sleep, or general irritability. Gentle osteopathic care may help ease these early strains and support your baby as they adjust to life outside the womb.

The early years are a time of rapid growth and development — learning to feed, roll, crawl, walk, communicate, and explore the world. Monitoring these milestones is important, and addressing physical tension or strain early may help prevent future difficulties.

Parents often seek osteopathic support for:

• Breastfeeding challenges (including neck and jaw tension)

• Plagiocephaly (head shape concerns)

• Muscular tension following tongue-tie release

• Persistent irritability

• Digestive discomfort

  
  

An osteopathic check-up after birth aims to gently assess your baby’s musculoskeletal system, breathing, and digestion. Treatment is very gentle and tailored to each child, helping to release tension, encourage balance, and promote relaxation.

Osteopathy focuses on how the body’s structure and movement influence overall function. By identifying and easing mechanical strains, we aim to support your child’s comfort, development, and overall wellbeing.

Above all, we care for the whole family — supporting your little one to feel more settled, comfortable, and free to thrive.

What to Expect

Listening First

We begin by listening carefully to your concerns and understanding why you’ve brought your little one to see us. We’ll ask gentle, detailed questions about your baby’s symptoms, as well as your pregnancy, delivery, and your own postnatal recovery. This helps us build a full picture of your child’s experience from the very beginning.

Examination

Your baby or child will always be examined with you present. Babies are comforted by knowing you are close, and older children are welcome to hold your hand throughout.

For babies, the examination is similar to what you may have seen at a GP or health visitor appointment. With slightly older children, we may invite them to copy simple movements — such as touching their toes — so we can observe how their body moves and functions.

After discussing our findings with you, we may carry out a gentle cranial osteopathic assessment if appropriate.

Treatment

We will explain clearly what we have found and whether we feel treatment may be helpful. Any treatment plan is always discussed with you first, ensuring you feel comfortable and confident before we begin. The number of sessions depends on your child’s symptoms, as well as the pregnancy and birth history. Many babies attending for a routine check require just one appointment. If more complex issues are present, further sessions may be recommended — but this is always your decision.

Postnatal Care for Mum

We also encourage mothers to consider a postnatal osteopathic assessment after their 6–8 week GP check. Pregnancy and birth — whatever the type of delivery — place significant demands on the body. A postnatal assessment can help restore comfort, balance, and function as you recover.

Our aim is to support both your child and your wider family with thoughtful, gentle care.